Thermostatically controlled fluid valves



Nov. 6, 1962 c. wANTz ETAL 3,062,449

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FLUID VALVES Filed Oct. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2o ETE. J-

Nov. 6, 1962 C. WA NTZ ETAL THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FLUID VALVES Filed Oct. 8, 1958 5 ShemEs--Sheei'l 2 A Nov., 6, 1962 c. wANTz ETAL THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FLUID VALVES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 8, 1958 Nov. 6, 1962 c. wANTz ETAL 3,062,449

THERMOSTATICALLY coNTRoLLED FLUID VALVES Filed oct. a, 1958 5 sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 6, 1962 c. WAN-rz ETAL 3,062,449 THERMOSTATICALLY coNTRoLLEn FLUID VALVES Filed oct. s, 195s y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V-ZIS Vrana llnited States 'Patent @hice 3,052,449 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,449 TIERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FLUID VALVES Clarence Wantz and William S. Kanzler, Greensburg, Pa., assignors to Rohertshaw-Fulton Controls Company,

Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed (1ct. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 766,017 9 Claims. (Cl. 236-99) This invention relates to thermostatically controlled fluid valves and more particularly to those which are used in connection with gas range top burners.

Conventional thermostatic top burner control valves have required large gas cocks to supply sufficient fluid to maintain the flame at the burner at all temperature settings of a dial. Except where two dials are used, they provide no adjustment of llame height to enable the user to select the flame size best suited to heating of a desired cooking utensil. In those thermostatic valves providing flame height adjustment, one knob adjusts the temperature setting and the second knob, usually concentric with and at the center of the temperature knob, provides llame height adjustment.

Previous thermostatic values have incorporated screw threads as a means for effecting temperature adjustment. Leads of screw threads are iixed and retain a rigid relationship between angular rotation and axial movement. Therefore, while they effect changes in the control ternperature as the dial is rotated, they cannot be easily tailored to match each thermostatic sensing element such that the actual change in control temperature will match the indicated temperature on the dial. The use of the screw thread type temperature adjustment also limits the flexibility and choice of dial markings.

It is an object of this invention to introduce greater flexibility in the matter of choice of dial markings.

It is another object of this invention to decrease the size of the control to provide a relatively inexpensive compact item.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a single dial for turning the iluid supply on or oli controlling lluid flow to a burner for adjusting the llame height, and to select the desired cooking temperature.

It is a still further object of this invention to compensate for error in the temperature sensing apparatus due to ambient temperature variations.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a built-in overtravel relief for thermostatically controlled fluid valves.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a control device which may be fully assembled outside the valve body and then inserted into the valve body as a unit.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a control device comprises a casing having a pair of valves disposed therein. The first valve is operated by a dial to control the capacity of flow to the fluid burner, thereby controlling the size of a llame thereon. A second valve is thermostatically operated in response to a temperature of a utensil on the burner to control the existence of a llame at the burner, thereby maintaining the utensil at a desired temperature. The dial has a movement for operating the rst valve and a separate movement for operating a cam-lever mechanism to select the desired utensil temperature. The cam mechanism is tailored to match the movement of the sensing element for the range of temperatures through which the dial is rotatable and the lever mechanism is externally adjustable to calibrate control.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a control device embodying this invention with the cover in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. l with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective View of another portion of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7a, 8a, and 9a are front elevation views showing the control dial in various positions;

FIGS. 7b, 8b, and 9b are fragmentary views with a member sectioned showing the cam mechanism and the sector plate and pin in various positions; and

FIGS. 7c, Sc, and 9c are sectional views taken on line C C of FIG. 2 showing the valve members in various positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the control device indicated generally at 10 comprises a casing or valve body 12 having a cover 14 and being provided with an inlet 16 and an outlet 18. The control li) may be mounted on a range manifold (not shown) by means of a flanged nipple 20 which has a passage 21 therein for communication with the inlet 16. The nipple 2li is threaded into the manifold and then attached to the valve body l2 by a pair of screws 22 (FIG. 2) which extend through openings 24 (FIG. 5) in the valve body 12 and corresponding openings (not shown) in the flanges of nipple 20. A hood 26 is threaded onto the valve body 12 over the outlet l and is adapted to supply fuel to the main burner of a gas range (not shown).

The valve body l2 is provided with a boss 28 extending upwardly from a central location on the bottom thereof. The boss 28 has a passage 3d extending centrally therethrough which communicates with inlet I6. A frusta-conical opening is formed in casing l2 and extends through a boss 2S at right angles to the passage 30 to form a valve seat 32. A corresponding frusto-conical shaped valve cock 34, having a passage 36 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, is inserted in valve seat 32. The valve plug 34 is rotatable for aligning or partially aligning passage 36 with inlet 16' and passage 39. It is apparent that the position of valve plug 34 determines the capacity of fluid flow to the valve body 12 thereby adjusting the llame size at the main burner.

Means is provided for rotating the valve plug 34. More particularly, the outwardly extending end of valve plug 34 is provided with an axial recess 33 to receive the reduced end 40 of a cylindrical valve stem 42. The cylindrical valve stem 42 is provided with a flattened portion 46 on one side thereof. A D-shaped opening 48 formed in an end 50 of a hub 52 is adapted to cooperate with the flattened portion 46 in such a manner that when the valve stem 42 is rotated, hub S2 rotates also. The hub 52 is also provided with a peripheral flange S4 forming a cam surface 55, the purpose and details of which will be described fully hereinafter.

The hub 52 is positioned with respect to the valve body 12 by a bearing guide 56 within which the hub 52 is rotatably mounted. The bearing guide 56 is provided with ears 5S having openings 60 therein which cooperate with guide pins 62 on the valve body l2 to accurately locate the bearing guide S6 which is then firmly attached to the valve body l2 by a pair of screws 64 (FIG. l). The screws 64 extend through the ears 58 and into the valve body l2. A dial or knob 66 (FIGS. 7a9a), having suitable indicia 68 thereon, is attached to the protruding end of valve stem 42 and is manually operable to rotate the same. Rotation of dial 66 is limited to less of a detail of the device than 360 by engagement of the tab 70 which is formed on the tlange 54 of hub 52 with a pair of abutments 72, 74 (FIG. 1) formed on the face of valve body 12.

Means is provided for normally preventing separation of the valve stem 42 from the valve plug 34 and the hub 52. More particularly, a spring clip 76 (best shown in FIG. 6) is provided in a machined undercut in the valve stem 42. The spring clip 76 is biased to protrude slightly beyond the valve stem periphery so as to engage the end 50 of hub 52 to prevent further movement of the valve stem 42 in the outward direction.

The valve plug 34 is biased into leak-tight engagement with valve seat 32 by a coil spring '78 which is disposed around the valve stem 42. The bias of coil spring 78 is transmitted to the end of valve plug 34 through a washer 80 and a sector plate 82. Sector plate 82 is provided with a D-shaped opening 84 corresponding to the reduced end 49 of valve stem 42 and is inserted thereon to rotate with the valve stem upon manual operation of dial 66. A pair of abutment surfaces 86, 88 are provided on the sector plate 82 and are adapted to cooperate with an abutment pin 90 extending outwardly from a radial point on the end of valve plug 34 to cause rotation thereof. The abutting surfaces 86, 83 are formed on the sector plate 82 approximately 210 apart so that the dial 66 may be rotated through approximately this angle without causing rotation of valve plug 34. The purpose of this lost motion connection will become apparent hereinafter.

A second valve seat 92 is formed in the valve body 12 by tapering the terminal portion of the upwardly extending boss 28. A valve cavity 94 is formed in the valve body 12 about valve seat 92 for the reception of a valve subassembly. This subassembly (best shown in FIG. comprises a pivot frame 96, a seat lever 98, an overshoot lever 102, and a bimetal lever 104. More particularly, the pivot frame 96 consists of a pair of substsntialy triangular-shaped sides 106, 103. The sides 106, 108 are held in opposed relation by a pair of pins 110 and 112 which are staked to the sides at two of the three extremities thereof. The third extremity of each side 106, 108 is provided with a pierced hole 114. The pierced holes 114 are adapted to receive pivot pin 100 thereby pivotally mounting frame 96 thereon.

The seat lever 98 consists of a pair of sides 116, 118, each having an ear 120 formed on one end. The ears 120 are provided with pierced holes 122 which are adapted to pivotally mount the seat lever 98 on pin 100 between the opposide sides 106, 108 of the pivot frame 96. A plate 124 is formed integral with the sides 116, 118 0f seat lever 98 and extends therebetween. An aperture 126 is disposed centrally in plate 124 and a portion of a ball bearing 128 is received therein on the underside of plate 124. The ball bearing 128 is held within the aperture 126 by a spring clip 130 which is provided with a pair of prongs therefor and is xedly mounted on the underside of plate 124 at 132 (FIG. 2). A valve disc 134 is welded to the ball bearing 128 and is adapted to cooperate with valve seat 92 to prevent fluid ow therethrough. It is now apparent that the seat lever 98 forms a self-leveling valve assembly with valve seat 92.

A rectangular-shaped tab 136 extends from the plate 124 of seat lever 98 at an angle thereto and is provided with a formed projection 138. The bimetal lever -4 is adapted to have one end resting on the formed projection 138 and a pair of indentations 140 on the other end are adapted to receive a pair of pivot pins 142 which extend upwardly from the overshoot lever 102. The overshoot lever 102 is provided with upturned ears 144 which are adapted to pivotally mount the overshoot lever on pin 110 between the opposed sides 106, 108 of pivot frame 96.

It is now apparent that pivot frame 96, seat lever 98, bimetal lever 104, and overshoot lever 102 comprise a unitary subassembly on pin 100. To insert this subassembly in the valve cavity 94, a bore (not shown) is formed in a side wall 146 of valve body 12 adjacent the rear thereof and a threaded aperture 148 is formed in the side wall 150 opposite the bore. The pivot pin 100 is inserted into the threaded aperture 148 and the bore in side wall 146. A retaining screw 152 is provided with a driving slot 154 at one end and an internal recess 156 at the opposite end for receiving the pivot pin 100. The retaining screw 152 is threaded into aperture 148 until the pin 100 is rmly held between the side wall 146 and the retaining screw. Thus, one end of the subassembly is tixed within the valve body 12. The ree end of the subassembly is supported by a formed tab 158 which extends outwardly from overshoot lever 102 and is adapted to rest on a cam pin guide 160 which extends upwardly adjacent the front face of the valve body 12. A second formed tab 162 extends outwardly from the overshoot lever 102 and an aperture 164 is formed therein to anchor one end of a biasing means which takes the form of an overshoot spring 166 (FIG. 4). The other end of overshoot spring 166 is hooked around pin 112 thereby restraining clockwise rotation of overshoot lever 102 about pin 110.

Means is provided for varying the position of the subassembly within the valve body 12. More particularly, an adjusting screw 168 having a pointed end 170 extends through a clamping plate 172 and the front face of valve body 12. The clamping plate 172 is positioned externally of the valve body 12 and acts to hold the adjusling screw 168 in its set position and is provided with suitable indicia 174 disposed thereon. A driving slot 176 provided on adjusting screw 168 cooperates with the indicia 174 to indicate the rotational position of the adjusting screw relative thereto. The pointed end of adjusting screw 168 engages pin 112 of the pivot frame 96 so that axial movement of the adjusting screw will cause pivotal movement of the subassembly about pin 100.

The seat lever 98 of the subassembly is adapted to pivot counterclockwise about pin 100 to cause engagement of valve disc 134 with the valve seat 92 to prevent iluid tlow to the valve body 12. However, resilient means in the form of a small coil spring 178 (FIG. 7c) is fixed in valve body 12 adjacent Valve seat 92 and is adapted to engage the bottom of side 116 to normally bias seat lever 98 to an open position.

Means is provided for causing engagement of seat lever 104 with valve seat 92 in response to the temperature of a utensil on the main burner of a gas range. More particularly, the valve cover 14, having thermostatic means thereon, is firmly secured to the valve body 12 by four screws 180 (only two shown in FIG. 1) which extend through suitable apertures in the cover 14 and are threaded into apertures 182 in the valve body 12. A sealing gasket 184 is placed between the cover 14 and the valve body 12 to provide a duid-tight connection. The thermostatic mean scomprises a threaded inner stud 186 which is locked into position on the cover 14 by a nut 188. An expansible diaphragm assembly 190 is attached to the inner stud on the inner side of the cover 14 and a capillary tube 192 is attached to the inner stud on the external side of cover 14. A sensing head 194 is carried by the capillary tube 192 and mounted at the main burner of the gas range and adapted to engage a cooking utensil situated thereon to sense the temperature thereof. This assembly is charged with a liquid which expands or contracts in response to variations in temperature to provide a hydraulic motive power to the diaphragm assembly 190. This thrust is transmitted through outer stud 196 on the diaphragm 190 to a formed projection 198 disposed on the bimetal lever 104. The overshoot spring 166 is relatively strong so that upon receiving thrust from the outer stud 196, the bimetal lever 104 pivots about the pivot pins 142 on overshoot lever 102. This transmits the thrust to seat lever 98 thereby pivoting the seat lever about pin 100 against the bias of the coil spring 178 to move the valve disc 134 into engagement with valve seat 92. Upon norma] overshoot or if the sensing head 194 is suddenly subjected to extremely high temperatures, the excess thrust created will be transmitted to the overshoot lever 102 which will pivot about pin 110 against the bias of overshoot spring 166 to prevent excessively stressing the control parts.

Means is provided for setting the temperature at which the seat lever 98 will be moved into engagement with the valve seat 92. More particularly, a cam pin 200 is disposed in the cam pin guide 160 and is operable to engage the formed tab 158 to rotate overshoot lever 102 and bimetal lever 104 thereby Varying the position of the formed projection 198 with respect to the outer stud 196 on the expandable diaphragm assembly 190. With a changed position of projection 198, it is apparent that a different sensed temperature will be required to cause engagement of the outer stud 196 with the projection 198 for pivoting the seat lever 98 into engagement with valve seat 92.

The cam pin 200 and cam pin guide 160 form part of a follower assembly which is situated in a bore 202 provided in the valve body 12 adjacent the front face thereof and positioned above flange 54 of hub 52. A reduced portion 204 is provided in bore 202 adjacent the bottom thereof and slidably mounts a cam button 206. The cam button 206 is of cup-shaped configuration and has an outwardly extending flange 208 (FIG. 6) which is adapted to engage the shoulder formed by the junction of the bore 202 and the reduced portion 204 to prevent extraction of the cam button. The cam pin guide 160 has the bottom thereof fixed within the upper portion of bore 202 and the cam pin 200 extends through an aperture 210 disposed centrally therein. The other end of cam pin 200 is seated within the cup-shaped cam button 206. A coil spring 212, a washer 214, and a seal 216 are disposed around the cam pin 200 and the spring 212 is compressed between the cam button 206 and the washer 214. This compresses seal 216 which is positioned between the washer 214 and the cam pin guide 160 to form a slidable leak-tight connection with the cam pin 200 and also urges the cam buton 206 into engagement with the cam surface 55 formed on the perimeter of hub flange 54. The cam surface 5S of circular hub flange 54 is substantially in the form of an involute. The radius of the cam surface 55 is comparatively small on one side of tab 70 and it progressively increases when proceeding in a clockwise direction until a point is reached adjacent the other side of tab 70.

As shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, when the off position of indicia 68 on dial 66 is adjacent a reference point 218, which may be suitably positioned on the valve body 12 or a bezel (not shown) inserted on the bearing guide 56, the cam pin 200 rests on the lower level of the cam surface 55. Thus, the cam pin 200 is in its low position and protrudes only slightly from the cam pin guide 160. The overshoot spring 166 urges overshoot lever 102 in a counterclockwise direction to maintain the formed tab 158 in engagement with the cam pin. This rotation of overshoot lever 102 positions the formed projection 198 on bimetal 104 such that a low sensed temperature will cause engagement of the outer stud 196 with the projection 198 to cause pivotal movement of the bimetal lever 104 about the pivot pins 142. The thrust is then transmitted to projection 138 causing rotation of the seat lever 98 about pin 110 to engage with valve seat 92.

Counterclockwise rotation of the dial 66 raises the cam pin 200 causing clockwise rotation of overshoot lever 102 against the bias of overshoot spring 166 to move the projection 198 away from the outer stud 196. Hence, a higher sensed temperature will be required to move outer stud 196 into engagement with the projection 198 to cause operation of the seat lever 98. The cam pin 200 is continually raised as the dial 66 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction until the tab 70 engages the abutment 74 on the face of the valve body 12. This corresponds to the HI position of the dial as shown in FIG. 8a and a temperature of approximately 425 F. will be required to operate the seat lever 98.

The control is calibrated by setting the dial at some position, for example 200 F., and the sensing head 194 is immersed in a bath -of corresponding temperature. Thus, the position of the outer stud 96 will be established. It is desired that the projection 198 on bimetal lever 104 engage the outer stud 196 for operating seat lever 98 at exactly this temperature to stop fluid flow through the valve body 12. To this end, adjusting screw 168 is manipulated to cause the pointed end 170 thereof to rotate the pivot frame 96. Rotation of pivot frame 96 adjusts the position of projection 198 relative to outer stud 196 and by proper manipulation of the adjusting screw 168, the valve disc 134 may be moved into engagement with valve seat 92 at exactly the set temperature of 200 F.

Operation After calibration, the control is mounted on a range manifold by means of the flanged nipple 20 and the sensing head 186 may be mounted in the main burner of the range for contact with any suitable cooking utensil placed thereon. Initially, the dial 66 is in the off position and the parts are situated as shown in FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c, with the valve plug 34 in position to cut off fluid flow through the valve body 12. Dial 66 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to HI position, as shown in FIG. 8a, whereby tab 70 engages abutment 74. The sector plate 82 rotates with the dial 66 and the abutting surface 86 thereon rotates through an angle of approximately 210 before it engages pin 90 to rotate the valve plug 34 to the position shown in FIG. 8b for permitting fluid flow through the valve body. Fluid now flows f through inlet 16 and valve plug passage 36 -to a pilot passage 220 (FIG. 7c) for-med in the valve body 12.

The pilot passage 220 communicates with the pilot outlet 222 situated on the side of casing 12. Suitable means (not shown) is attached to pilot outlet 222 for supplying fluid to a pilot burner (not shown) which is customarily situated in igniting relationship with the main burner. A screw 224 (FIG. l) is threaded into the front face of valve body 12 and communicates with pilot passage 220 and is adjustable to selectively restrict the fluid flow therethrough. The seat lever 98 is normally biased by coil spring 178 away from valve seat 92 thereby also allowing fluid flow through outlet 18 to the main burner.

After ignition of the main burner, the dial 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction to the desired temperature setting indicated on indicia 68. Note that 4during the temperature setting movement, the position of the valve plug 34 is not affected due to the lost motion connection between pin and the abutting surfaces 86, 88 of sector plate 82. However, if a small cooking utensil is positioned over the burner and a flame height less than the full input is desired, the dial is rotated from HI in a clockwise direction to the graduated portion 226 of indicia 68. This moves abutting surface 88 of sector plate 82 through an angle of approximately 210 into engagement with pin 90. The operator then adjusts the flame height visually or by the markings on the indicia 224 to the desired flame height. Reduced flame height is caused by rotation of valve plug 34 to a position limiting fluid flow to the casing as shown in FIG. 9c. A notch 228 is provided on the valve plug 34 to insure adequate pilot ow in this reduced flow position.

After the flame height adjustment has been made, the dial 66 is then rotated counterclockwise to the desired temperature setting. It should again be noted that the movement to the temperature setting position does not affect the position of the valve plug 34 since abutting surface 88 merely moves away from pin 90 and the rotation is not sufficient to bring abutting surface 88 into contact with the pin 90.

Movement of dial 66 to the desired temperature setting position causes rotation of the cam surface 55 to position the height of cam pin 200 thereby adjusting the relative position between projection 198 and outer stud 196. Hence, when the cooking utensil reaches a selected ternperature, for example 300 F. as shown in FIG. 9a, the outer stud 196 will be moved against projection 198 and the bimetal lever 104 will pivot about pins 142I on overshoot lever 102. This transmits movement of the bimetal lever 104 to the seat lever 98 causing pivotal movement of the same about pin 100 to move valve disc 134 into engagement with valve seat 92 to stop uid fiow to the main burner.

When the temperature of the utensil as sensed by head 194 decreases below the set temperature of 300 F., the outer stud 196 will move away from the projection 19S and the valve disc 134 will be moved away from valve seat 92 to permit fluid flow to the main burner. Fluid flowing tothe main burner will be ignited by the pilot and the cooking utensil will again be heated until the temperature thereof reaches 300 F. It is apparent that an intermittent flame will be produced at the main burner to maintain the temperature of the cooking utensil at that set on dial 66.

Should the ambient temperature of the control device increase, such as due to the use of adjacent burners, this will cause an increased expansion of the diaphragm assembly 190. However, bimetal lever 104 will also be heated and will warp in such a manner as to compensate for the variance in the sensing device. Consequently, changes in the ambient temperatures have no appreciable effect on the calibration or control afforded at a given dial setting.

While a single embodiment of this invention has been shown and described particularly in connection with gas range surface burners, it is apparent that there may be changes in the application thereof as well as in the structure and operation without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a gas oven burner control valve assembly including a valve housing having a gas flow passage therethrough, an adjustable thermostatic valve disposed in said passage to regulate the ow of gas through said passage to maintain a selected temperature adjacent a gas burner operatively connected to said valve assembly for control thereby, and a plug valve disposed in said passage for rotative adjustment between a fully closed position and a fully open position to regulate the flow of gas through said passage to maintain a selected llame height at said burner; the improvement comprising a dial shaft mounted in said housing for rotation in opposite first and second directions, adjusting means on said shaft cooperable with said thermostatic valve within a given range of angular movement of said shaft to adjustably select the temperature to be maintained by said thermostatic valve in accordance with the angular position of said shaft within said given range, plug valve opening means operable by rotation of said shaft in said first direction beyond one end of said given range to rotate said plug valve toward its fully open position, said valve opening means being ineffective to vary the position of said plug valve during rotation of said shaft in said second direction, and plug valve closing means operable by rotation of said shaft in said second direction beyond the other end of said given range to move said plug valve toward its closed position, said valve closing means being ineffective to vary the position of said plug valve during rotation of said shaft in said first direction whereby said plug valve may be moved to an adjusted rotated position by rotation of said shaft in one direction and said thermostatic valve may be adjusted independently of the position of said plug valve by subsequent rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction.

2. In a gas oven burner control valve assembly having a valve housing, means defining a gas flow passage through said housing, an adjustable thermostatic valve disposed in said passage to regulate the flow of gas through said passage to maintain a selected temperature adjac-ent a gas burner operatively connected to said valve assembly for control thereby, and a plug valve disposed in said passage for rotative adjustment between a fully closed position and a fully open position to regulate the flow of gas through said passage to maintain a selected fiame height at said burner; the improvement comprising a dial shaft mounted in said housing for rotation between angularly spaced end limits of rotation, first one-way rotary coupling means engageable between said shaft and said plug valve when said shaft is within a first angular range of movement terminating at one of said end limits for rotating said plug valve toward its fully opened position upon rotation of said shaft within said rst range toward said one end limit, second one-way rotary coupling means engageable between said shaft and said plug valve when said shaft is within a second angular range of movement terminating at the other of said end limits, said first and said second angular ranges of movement being spaced from each other by an intermediate angular range of movement, said second coupling means being operable when engaged to rotate said plug valve toward its fully closed position upon rotation of said shaft within said second range toward said other of said end limits, and cam means on said shaft coupled to said thermostatic valve for adjusting said thermostatic valve to select the temperature to be maintained adjacent said burner in accordance with the angular position of said shaft within said intermediate angular range of movement whereby said plug valve may be moved to an adjusted rotated position and said thermostatic valve may be subsequently adjusted to the desired temperature setting independently of the adjusted rotated position of said plug valve.

3. In a device fo-r controlling the flow of fiuid in accordance with temperature variations, the combination comprising a casing having a valve seat situated therein, a seat lever pivotally mounted in said casing for cooperation with said valve seat to regulate fluid flow therethrough, resilient means normally urging said seat lever to an open position, an overshoot lever also pivotally mounted in said casing, biasing means being stronger than said resilient means for urging said overshoot lever in one direction, cam means for urging said overshoot lever against the action of said biasing means, another lever suspended between said seat lever and said overshoot lever, thermally responsive means attached to said casing and engaging said suspended lever in response to temperature variations to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said valve seat, said overshoot lever pivoting against the action of said biasing means to absorb overtravel of said thermally responsive means, and said cam means being operable to move said suspended lever relative to said thermally responsive means thereby determining the temperature at which said thermally responsive means will engage said suspended lever to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said valve seat.

4. In a device for controlling the flow of uid in accordance with temperature variations, the combination comprising a casing having a valve seat situated therein, a seat lever pivotally mounted in said casing for cooperation with said valve seat to regulate fluid flow therethrough, resilient means normally urging said seat lever to an open position, a frame pivotally mounted in said casing having an overshoot lever pivotally mounted thereon, biasing means being stronger than said resilient means for urging said overshoot lever in one direction, cam means situated in said casing for urging said overshoot lever against the action of said biasing means to restrain pivotal movement of said frame in one direction, adjustment means engaging said frame for restraining pivotal movement thereof in the other direction, another lever suspended between said seat lever and said overshoot lever, thermally responsive means attached to said casing and engaging said suspended lever in response to temperature variations to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said valve seat, said overshoot lever pivoting against the action of said biasing means to absorb overtravel of said thermally responsive means, said cam means being operable to move said suspended lever relative to said thermally responsive means thereby determining the temperature at which said thermally responsive means will engage said suspended lever to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said valve seat, and said adjustment means being operable to pivot said frame thereby also moving said suspended lever relative to said thermally responsive means to adjust the temperature at which said seat lever will engage said valve seat.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said thermally responsive means comprises an assembly charged with a temperature sensitive fluid and having a diaphragm mounted on said casing and Ia sensing element adapted to be remotely situated, said suspended lever being of bimetallic construction and adapted to warp to compensate for variations in fluid expansion due to ambient temperature variations.

6. In a control device, the combination `comprising a casing having a passage therethrough for the llow of Huid, a valve seat intercepting said passage, a plug valve member having a passage therethrough and being rotatably mounted in said seat for aligning said plug passage with said casing passage, an end of said plug having a recess disposed centrally therein and a pin protruding from a radial point thereon, a shaft having a pair of abutment surfaces associated therewith and being rotatably mounted in said recess, a dial attached to said shaft and being rotatable in one direction to :cause engagement of one of said abutment surfaces with said pin to align said plug passage with said casing passage `and lbeing rotatable in the other direction to cause engagement of the other of said abutment surfaces with said pin to partially align said plug passage with said casing passage, said abutment surfaces being displaced from each other whereby said dial is rotatable independently of said plug valve member.

7. In a control device, the combination comprising a casing having a passage therethrough for the ow of fluid, a first valve seat intercepting said passage, a plug valve member having a passage therethrough and being rotatably mounted in said first valve seat for aligning said plug passage with said casing passage, an end of said plug having a recess disposed centrally therein and a pin protruding from a radial point thereon, a shaft having a pair of abutment surfaces associated therewith and 'being rotatably supported in said recess7 cam means associated with said shaft for operation thereby, a second valve in said casing, lever means operatively connected to said cam means and said second valve, thermally responsive means operable to engage said lever means in response to temperature variations for moving the same to cause actuation of said second valve, a dial attached to said shaft and being rotatable in one direction to cause engagement of one of said abutment surfaces with said pin to align said plug passage with said casing passage and being rotatable in the other `direction to rcause engagement of the other of said abutment surfaces with said pin to cause partial alignment of said plug passage with said casing passage, said lever means being selectively positioned relative to said thermally responsive means in response to movement of said dial thereby setting the temperature at which said thermally responsive means will engage said lever means to actuate said second valve, said abutment surfaces `being displaced from each other whereby said dial is operable to position said lever means independently of movement of said plug valve member.

8. A control device comprising -in combination a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a iirst valve seat in said casing and a first valve member rotatably mounted with respect thereto to control fluid ow therethrough, a second valveseat in said casing, a seat lever pivotally mounted in said casing for cooperation with said second valve seat to regulate the fluid flow therethrough, resilient means normally urging said seat lever to an open position, a pin extending outwardly from an end of said first valve member, manually operable means including a plurality of abutment surfaces, said manually operable means being rotatable in one direction to cause engagement of one of said abutment surfaces with said pin t0 open said first valve and being rotatable in the other direction to cause engagement of another of said abutment surfaces with said pin to move said iirst valve member to a controlling position, a frame pivotally mounted in said casing having an overshoot lever pivotally mounted thereon, biasing means being stronger than said resilient means for urging said overshoot lever in one direction, cam means associated with said manually operable means and being operable thereby for urging said overshoot lever against the action of said biasing means to restrain pivotal movement of said frame in one direction, adjustment means engaging said frame for restraining pivotal movement thereof in the other direction, another lever suspended between said seat lever `and said overshoot lever, thermally responsive means attached to said casing engaging said suspended lever in response to temperature variations to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said second valve seat, said overshoot lever pivoting against the action of said biasing means to absorb overtravel of said thermally responsive means, said manually operable means being operable to move said suspended lever relative to said thermally responsive means thereby determining the temperature at which said thermally responsive means will engage said suspended lever to pivot said seat lever into engagement with said second valve seat, said abutment surfaces being displaced from each other whereby said manually operable means moves said suspended lever independently of said first valve member, and said adjustment means being operable to pivot said frame thereby moving said suspended lever relative to said thermally responsive means to adjust the temperature at which said seat lever will engage said second valve seat.

9. In a device for controlling the flow of fluid in accordance with temperature variations, the combination comprising a casing having a normally open valve positioned therein for controlling the Huid flow through said casing, overtravel means pivotally mounted in said casing and including biasing means for urging said overtravel means in one direction, manually operable means for urging said overtravel means against the action of said biasing means, bimetallic means forming an operative connection between said valve and said overtravel means to compensate for ambient temperature variations, and thermally responsive means engaging said operative connection in response to a predetermined temperature to close said valve, said overtravel means being adapted to pivot against the action of said biasing means to absorb overtravel of said thermally responsive means, said manually operable means being operable to move said operative connection relative to said thermally responsive means thereby determining the temperature at which said thermally responsive means will engage said operative connection to close said valve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,552 Grayson Oct. 16, 1934 2,004,597 Birtch June 11, 1935 2,006,930 Newell et al. July 2, 1935 2,099,171 Matthews Nov. 16, 1937 2,393,841 Titcomb Jan. 29, 1946 2,987,257 Sherlock June 6, 1961 

